- The Securities and Exchange Commission published a policy statement to announce that decisions about whether to accelerate the effectiveness of a registration statement will not be affected by the presence of a provision requiring arbitration of investor claims arising under the federal securities laws. “As an agency that trumpets the importance of disclosure and transparency, the Commission’s lack of a recent public position on this important topic is unmoored from both its mission and its mandate. That ends today,” said Chairman Paul S. Atkins.
- The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted to approve proposed rule changes by three national securities exchanges to adopt generic listing standards for exchange-traded products that hold spot commodities, including digital assets. As a result, the exchanges may list and trade Commodity-Based Trust Shares that meet the requirements of the approved generic listing standards without first submitting a proposed rule change to the Commission pursuant to Section 19(b) of the Exchange Act.
- New Documents Suggest FBI Probe Targeted Turning Point USA: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Tuesday released new documents suggesting that several conservative organizations were targeted by the FBI as part of its investigation into the aftermath.
- UK, US Sign $42 Billion Tech Deal to Boost AI Partnership: The United Kingdom and the United States struck a technology pact on Sept. 16 that would bring $42 billion in investments from U.S. tech giants into the UK’s AI infrastructure.
- DOJ Sues Maine, Oregon Over Voter Registration Lists: The Department of Justice (DOJ ) said on Sept. 16 that it is suing Oregon and Maine for failing to provide information on how their election offices maintain valid voter.
- In the Neighborhood of Kirk’s Alleged Assassin, Religious Faith Steadies Rattled Residents: Utah – Alongside the majestic Pine Valley Mountains, Pine View Estates is a middle-class desert paradise.
- Germany is facing a perilous watershed moment, warned Chancellor Friedrich Merz in a speech to parliament today. He vowed that his government will make the right choices to protect freedom, economic prosperity and social cohesion and set out priorities for the ruling coalition of his conservatives and the Social Democrats.
- European Union member states approved negotiations with Canada and the UK that would give them access to the bloc’s €150 billion ($178 billion) fund aimed at accelerating investment in the defense industry. If agreed, the accords would allow British and Canadian companies to participate in common procurements financed by SAFE, part of the EU’s effort to boost its defense readiness. Other non-EU states are also seeking to participate including Albania, Turkey and South Korea.
- US President Donald Trump was welcomed today at Windsor Castle in the UK with a royal carriage ride as part of his state visit. The pageantry of his meeting with King Charles III is set against the backdrop of heightened global and domestic tensions. Tomorrow he will have a day of diplomatic meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in which the UK hopes to press Trump on trade terms and the war in Ukraine, though major breakthroughs are not expected.
- here is growing momentum in Europe to expand the use of frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine. European governments and their allies in the Group of Seven are looking at ways to make further use of the immobilized assets to generate additional revenue to support Kyiv’s defense against Moscow’s war, according to people familiar. The topic is expected to be raised by some EU finance ministers at a meeting in Copenhagen this week and among the EU leaders in October and a decision could be finalized at the Oct. 23-24 EU leaders’ summit.
- Abu Dhabi National Oil dropped its planned $19 billion takeover of Australian natural gas producer Santos, walking away from an ambitious effort to expand overseas after failing to agree on key terms. A “combination of factors” discouraged the company’s XRG unit from making a final bid, it said today. It’s a notable retreat for XRG, the Adnoc spinoff launched to great fanfare last year and tasked with deploying Abu Dhabi’s billions into international dealmaking.
- The EU proposed suspending Israel’s preferential trade benefits as part of a new package of sanctions in response to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The European Commission proposed today to suspend part of its association agreement with Israel, which means the country will be charged the same tariff rate as other nations that don’t have a trade accord with the bloc. The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner.
- Alarm firm Verisure is planning to raise about €3.1 billion via an initial public offering in Stockholm, it would be Europe’s largest such deal in three years. The proceeds will be used to pay down debt and finance an acquisition, according to a statement. The offering would consist of new shares and €235 million will be raised from two existing investors. The listing will happen in the next few weeks, Chief Executive Officer Austin Lally said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.
- EU Warns Against ‘Undue’ Bias Toward Defense Sector in ESG Funds.
- Startup Working to Bring Back Dodo Bird Raises $120 Million.
- Zimbabwe Central Bank Deputy Says Time for Dollar Debate Is Over.
- EU Wraps Up Trade Deal With Indonesia in Push for New Markets.
- Trump’s Trade Envoy to Meet With South African Minister.
- Microsoft Strikes $6 Billion Deal to Rent AI Compute Power in Norway.
- NPR plans to trim $5 million this year to bring its annual budget into balance as public radio stations struggle to pay the bills. According to three people with direct knowledge, it does not plan layoffs or major programming shifts.
- Watchdog report finds overwhelming majority of IRS employees fired by DOGE for performance had no documented issues.
- Canada to announce new foreign interference watchdog to fight transnational repression.
- ‘Predator’ spyware firm Intellexa resurgent after US sanctions.
- New US bill aims to clamp down on money laundering through art holdings.
- Hidden details of Putin’s private life show his ‘real worldview,’ new book claims.
- ‘Justice was not served’: Human trafficker identified in ICIJ’s Trafficking Inc. sentenced in Nigeria.
- Portugal launches probe into construction giant’s dealings with Equatorial Guinea’s vice president.
- Parliamentary committee labels China ‘flagrant’ perpetrator of transnational repression on UK soil.
- Muslim Dearborn mayor tells Christian resident he is ‘Not welcome’ after questioning street sign honoring controversial Arab leader.
- The Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, fly over Windsor as Royals honor Trump at Windsor Castle.
- Tim Walz announces run for third gubernatorial term, slams Trump admin. in new campaign video.
- President Trump and First Lady Melania visit Queen Elizabeth’s burial site.
- Texas State student expelled after acting out Charlie Kirk assassination on campus.
- ABC Pulls ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ Indefinitely After Charlie Kirk Remarks.
- ‘Someone influenced’ Senzo Mchunu to disband Political Killings Task Team, Mkhwanazi tells commission.
- Disney-owned ABC has cancelled Jimmy Kimmel Live! over comments the show’s host made about Charlie Kirk’s death, which triggered a threat from US communications regulator, the FCC, against Disney. Because nothing screams “land of the free” louder than crushing dissent.
- Trump has signalled that he will be designating the anti-fascist Antifa movement a “terrorist organisation”, while vowing to also investigate the movement’s funders.
- Cuba’s foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez has called on the UN to prevent the US from starting a war in the Caribbean, while tensions are rising in the region due to a military build-up to combat drug cartels.
- Thai police fired teargas and rubber bullets at Cambodian protesters in a disputed border area on Wednesday, marking the worst flare-up in tensions since a ceasefire that ended a deadly five-day conflict in July this year.
- Wild Coast fishers fight Shell in ConCourt: At the heart of the case is whether Shell’s exploration rights, originally granted without meaningful engagement with local fishing and coastal communities, can be renewed using consultation mechanisms outside statutory requirements – or whether constitutional protections for communities’ livelihoods, cultural practices and environmental rights must prevail.
- France faces mass strikes today as teachers, train drivers, pharmacists and hospital staff protest against looming budget cuts. Unions demand more public spending, wealth taxes and pension reform rollback, challenging Emmanuel Macron and new PM Sebastien Lecornu amid political turmoil and deficit pressures.
- Amazon violated consumer protection law by collecting Prime subscribers’ billing data before disclosing terms, a US judge ruled ahead of a trial in which the Federal Trade Commission will allege deceptive signups and cancellation obstacles under the Restore Online Shoppers Confidence Act.
- Nelson Yang’s Farm to Material is reviving Taiwan’s banana heritage by transforming discarded banana pseudostems into sustainable fibres for textiles and vegan leather. Though still nascent, the venture could supply global sneaker brands, offering eco-friendly alternatives and boosting Taiwan’s textile innovation reputation.
- The Bank of England is expected to keep its benchmark rate unchanged today. UK taxpayers lose £400 million on a startup fund launched by former PM Rishi Sunak. And Meta unveils Ray-Bans with a built-in screen.
- The Bank of England is seen keeping the benchmark rate at 4% today. It is also expected to slow its quantitative tightening program to £70 billion a year from £100 billion, amid concerns about bond market volatility. By contrast, the US Federal Reserve lowered rates overnight for the first time this year and penciled in two more reductions this year. Check out our Markets Today live blog for all the latest news and analysis relevant to UK assets.
- French unions are leading widespread anti-austerity protests today, raising pressure on newly appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu as he struggles to find allies to piece together a budget. All of the major labor organizations called on their members to join marches as a show of force against spending cuts proposed in July that they say amount to “unprecedented brutality.”
- Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK now turns to tougher diplomatic talks on trade and foreign policy with Keir Starmer. The leaders will announce a British-American tech partnership but private discussions are likely to delve into thornier matters, including trade and Russia’s war on Ukraine. Last night’s lavish state dinner at Windsor Castle featured a mix of flattery and discussions on economic deals, while protesters gathered outside to voice opposition.
- UK taxpayers have lost £400 million on a startup investment rescue fund launched by former PM Rishi Sunak during the pandemic. The Future Fund’s value has plummeted as 334 companies went bust, raising questions about its effectiveness and Sunak’s judgment.
- Israel has developed a 100-kilowatt laser weapon called Iron Beam to intercept drones, rockets and missiles, which is set to be operational by the end of 2025. It will be integrated into the Iron Dome missile defense shield in the coming months, offering another layer of protection.
- Tesla Faces Door Handle Probe From Auto Safety Regulators.
- DE Shaw Raising $5 Billion in Its First Hedge Fund Run by Humans.
- Meta unveiled its $799 Ray-Ban Display smart glasses with a built-in screen. The glasses can display text messages, turn-by-turn directions in maps and visual results from queries to Meta’s AI service.
- Politics – Keir Starmer has sought to navigate a politically treacherous state visit by Donald Trump with an announcement of £150bn of US investment in the UK. As thousands of protesters voiced their anger in London, Trump was escorted by the king and queen through a first day that ended in a state banquet but kept him out of reach of his critics.
- US news – Jimmy Kimmel Live! will be suspended “indefinitely” after comments he made about the killing of Charlie Kirk, ABC has announced, hours after the Trump-appointed chair of the US broadcast regulator threatened broadcasters’ licenses if action was not taken against the late night host.
- France – About 800,000 people are expected to take to the streets across France as the country braced for one of its biggest strike days in recent years to pressure the new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, to rethink budget cuts and act on wages, pensions and public services.
- UK news – Axel Rudakubana was discharged from mental health services six days before he murdered three young girls and stabbed several others at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, it has emerged.
- AI – Scientists have developed an artificial intelligence tool that can predict personal risk of more than 1,000 diseases, and forecast health changes a decade in advance.
- Andre de Ruyter has a new job: Since leaving Eskom, Andre de Ruyter has been an “itinerant scholar” at prestigious universities around the world, with the former CEO picking up a new role in South Africa’s energy sector.
- One South African company fixed over 300,000 potholes in Joburg: The Pothole Patrol partnership has repaired over 312,000 potholes in Johannesburg and is driving significant savings for individuals and insurers.
- South Africa’s government spends over R1 trillion on two things: South Africa’s government spends nearly half of its budget on just two things.
- The South African bank taking on the Big Four – and winning: Discovery Bank’s home loan book has grown rapidly in its first year, with most clients switching existing mortgages, positioning the bank to become a serious challenger to South Africa’s Big Four banks.
- Electricity infrastructure under siege in South Africa’s biggest city: City Power has recovered two tons of stolen cables and arrested three of its workers in two separate incidents.
- Newly proposed US legislation targeting South Africa: There has been a new push in the US senate for action to be taken against South Africa.
- The South African who went from being a security guard to managing over R7 billion: Zwelakhe Mnguni went from a job as a security guard to co-founding an asset management company that today oversees around R7.2 billion in assets.
Must read - Big changes for Standard Bank branches and ATMs across South Africa: Standard Bank is streamlining its South African branch network by expanding cashless branches and upgrading its ATM network with next-generation machines.
- South Africa’s Auditor-General forced to flush millions down the drain: Due to several state-owned enterprises undergoing liquidation or business rescue, the Auditor-General of South Africa will have to write off around R40 million of the R644 million in debt owed by SOEs.
- One skill South African companies are looking for: Since 2019, advertised jobs requiring AI expertise have increased by over 350%, and even basic AI-related skills make job seekers much more likely to find employment in South Africa and overseas.
- One reason why the Reserve Bank may not cut interest rates this week: Despite lower inflation in August, the Reserve Bank is not expected to announce another interest rate cut on Thursday.
- Carmaker in hot water over “dangerous” door handles: Tesla’s door handles have drawn scrutiny following several incidents where passengers were trapped inside their cars.
- The Federal Reserve announced a quarter-percentage-point cut in benchmark rates yesterday, bringing the range to between 4% and 4.25%—the lowest level in almost three years. The bank signaled the possibility of two additional cuts this year.
- Texas-based de-extinction company Colossal Biosciences announced yesterday it has successfully grown pigeon primordial germ cells—a step toward its goal of reviving the extinct dodo bird.
- Gino the gorilla dies at age 44; the silverback gorilla was the oldest gorilla at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and had been at the park since its 1998 opening.
- Ousted CDC Director Susan Monarez testifies before Senate Health Committee; says Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to change the childhood vaccine schedule this month without an independent data analysis (More)
- Researchers develop AI tool that uses medical records to calculate risk for 1,231 diseases, including Type 2 diabetes and heart conditions.
- Wild African chimps easily consume more than the equivalent of two standard alcoholic drinks, according to first-ever measure of ethanol in native fruits.
- Three police officers are killed and two others wounded in a shooting while serving an arrest warrant in York County, Pennsylvania; the shooter has not been publicly identified as of this writing.| President Donald Trump says he will designate Antifa as a terrorist organization.
- France’s major labor unions call for strikes and demonstrations today against austerity measures proposed by President Emmanuel Macron’s administration; more than 250 rallies planned nationwide.| See previous write-up.
- The US and Ukraine launch $150M joint fund to invest in Ukrainian mineral reserves; each committed $75M, will split profits.| Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign mutual defense pact.
- Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. is accelerating efforts to remake the nation’s vaccine policies, pushing past the objections of government scientists and lawmakers, as well as mounting calls for his removal.
- Donald Trump arrived at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s country residence for talks designed to focus the US leader’s unprecedented second state visit firmly on global affairs rather than domestic political problems.
- Pope Leo will keep Pope Francis’ signature policies to welcome gay Catholics, discuss women’s ordination and give China input on bishop appointments, but is not planning big changes to Church teaching, he said in his first interview.
- It’s the million dollar question that may decide the fate of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu: how to tax France’s billionaires? The Macron loyalist who last week became France’s fifth prime minister in less than two years, is racing to draft a budget. Meanwhile, French unions strike against austerity.
- Some of the most senior US diplomats focused on Syria have been abruptly let go from their posts in recent days, according to five people familiar with the matter, a shake-up that comes as Washington seeks to integrate its Syrian Kurdish allies with the central administration in Damascus.
- Saudi Arabia and nuclear-armed Pakistan signed a mutual defense pact, significantly strengthening a decades-old security partnership a week after Israel’s strikes on Qatar upended the diplomatic calculus in the region.
- Congo’s army and Rwandan-backed rebels are reinforcing military positions and blaming each other for flouting peace accords in an escalation that experts say risks reigniting the simmering conflict, which Donald Trump claims to have ended.
- Investors look set to face a volatile few months ahead after the Federal Reserve resumed interest rate cuts and opened the door to further easing but tempered its message with warnings of sticky inflation, sowing doubt over the pace of future policy adjustments.
- Meta launched its first consumer-ready smart glasses with a built-in display, seeking to extend the momentum of its Ray-Ban line, one of the early consumer hits of the artificial intelligence era.
- Huawei outlined its long-term chip plans for the first time and said it would launch some of the world’s most powerful computing systems – underscoring China’s drive to wean itself off foreign semiconductor suppliers like Nvidia.
- Anglo American’s $50 billion agreed merger with Teck Resources reignites the fitful quest by big extractors to join forces in the hunt for metal essential to the energy boom. In this week’s Viewsroom podcast, Breakingviews columnists debate the likely consequences.
- Automakers have been absorbing billions in added expenses since President Trump’s tariffs took effect in April, sparing American car shoppers from sticker shock. So far.
- Swiss goods exports to the US dropped by more than a fifth in August, the month in which Trump imposed 39% tariffs on the country, official data showed.
- Trump’s trade war is helping to push US clothing and footwear acquisitions to all-time highs this year, with some companies merging to help offset tariff costs while others go private to weather the next 3-1/2 years of his presidency outside of the public market, dealmakers say.
- A multibillion-dollar fraud industry has taken root across Southeast Asia, fueled partly by trafficking victims.
- Gen Alpha is redefining what it means to be a hero in 2025. According to Disney On Ice’s new report, kids look up to parents (39%), emergency workers (35%) and teachers (24%) far more than celebrities (9%). For today’s children, bravery, kindness and even vulnerability are the true superpowers.
- Holding the line: UK inflation held at 3.8% in August, showing no change from July despite shifts in travel, fuel and food costs.
- A proposal to shake-up one UK county has been released, which would see its 15 existing councils abolished in favour of new governing bodies to handle all local services.
- Palestinian journalist Anas Zayed Fteiha filed a legal claim against Axel Springer for alleging his photos exaggerate the famine in Gaza.
- A former Pentagon official says “U.S. forces went out and committed murder” in the drone strike off the coast of Venezuela.
- Google Secretly Handed ICE Data About Pro-Palestine Student Activist: Google handed over Gmail account information to ICE before notifying the student or giving him an opportunity to challenge the subpoena.
- Trump Sanctions Palestinian Human Rights Groups for Doing Their Job. Anybody Could Be Next: It’s the first time the U.S. has sanctioned an organization specifically for using lawful, peaceful tools of advocacy.
- Nancy Mace Targets Ilhan Omar in Charlie Kirk Speech Crackdown: The censure attempt comes as waves of people face professional reprisal over their speech in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s killing.
- GOP Rep. Backtracks on Bill That Could Let Marco Rubio Revoke Passports From Israel Critics: The bill alarmed civil liberties advocates who feared Rubio could use it to punish pro-Palestine Americans.
- Hegseth Leads Push to Punish Military Service Members Over Charlie Kirk Comments: The Pentagon’s political correctness campaign could affect dozens of enlisted troops and officers, according to one insider.
- Many ICE Agents Lose Ability to Spy on Immigrants’ Payments to Family Back Home: After The Intercept exposed how immigration agents surveil wire transfers, Arizona AG Kris Mayes cut off some of their access.
- The Data Shows Political Violence Is Actually Down: After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, everyone was handwaving about rising political violence.
- Trump Troop Deployment in U.S. Climbs to 35,000 Boots on the Ground: A federal judge found the deployment to LA violated bedrock constitutional law, but Trump’s domestic military campaign continues.
- Kathy Hochul Endorsed Zohran Mamdani. Will Top Democrats Join Her?: The New York governor’s support for Mamdani marked a shift in the NYC mayoral race — but Democratic leaders like Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries still haven’t weighed in.
- “They Fear Our Lenses”: Gaza Photojournalists Speak Out: Photographers in Gaza risk their lives to witness the war. Their images speak louder than the critics trying to discredit them.
- Nokia, together with Datwyler IT Infra, Intel, and the Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne (SIPBB), unveiled a pioneering hub for startups and nonprofits to accelerate industrial digitalization through advanced private 5G and AI-powered edge solutions.
- Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says there’s a “business plan” to turn Gaza into a “real estate bonanza.”
- President al-Sharaa says talks between Syria and Israel may lead to a security agreement soon.
- Bernie Sanders: ‘Israel is committing genocide in Gaza’.
- As the United Nations marks 80 years of existence, it must adapt and evolve to be fit for future generations, the President of the General Assembly said on Wednesday during a briefing to journalists in New York.
- Cameroonians go to the polls in October 2025 in what some people hoped might be a break from the country’s troubled recent past. They thought that President Paul Biya (92) might stand aside to allow a transition.
- South Africa’s Eastern Cape province has several million hectares of open land in rural areas, not privately owned but held in trust by the state on behalf of communities. The people who live there use it mainly for grazing livestock, subsistence farming, and sometimes hunting. A common misperception is that the grassy, rolling hills will take care of themselves. But these rangelands degrade for many reasons.
- The United States military has confirmed it conducted an airstrike near Badhan town in the Sanaag region of northeastern Somalia on September 13, targeting a weapons dealer affiliated with the al-Shabaab militant group.
- India has donated 10 tons of essential medicines to Somalia on Tuesday, boosting efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
- he Horn of Africa presents a striking paradox for scholars and policymakers: it is simultaneously one of the world’s most fragile regions and one of its most strategically indispensable. Politically, the region is characterized by recurrent instability, from the security crisis in Somalia to recurrent coups and authoritarian reversals in Sudan. Chronic humanitarian crises, recurring famine, and weakened governance institutions reinforce the Horn’s reputation as a textbook case of fragility.
- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ), in condemning this act of brutality against a journalist who was simply doing his job.
- Gambia: The National Assembly Member for Wuli East, Hon. Suwaibou Touray, has warned that climate change, rising sea levels, and erratic weather patterns are posing direct threats to livelihoods across agriculture and fisheries.
- Madagascar — The World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on supporting vulnerable households from six regions of Madagascar in producing enough food, withstanding future shocks, and working towards self-sufficiency, in line with the country’s national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
- Kampala — The Insurance Appeals Tribunal (IAT) has revealed that its rulings over the past three years are already shaping reforms and practices in Uganda’s insurance industry, fostering greater transparency and building public trust in the sector.
Open article - Ghana: POLICE in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, on Tuesday fired warning shots to disperse protesting students of the Tamale Technical University (TaTU).
- Liberia: Nimba County District #7 Representative and political leader of the Collaborating Movement for Change (CMC), Musa Hassan Bility, has launched a scathing attack on Vice President Jeremiah Koung, describing him as “an enemy forever” and accusing him of deliberately undermining his political and business activities.
- Johannesburg: On Tuesday, judgment was reserved in the Constitutional Court case brought by communities along the Wild Coast and environmental organisations against oil companies, Shell and Impact Africa. Both planned to explore for oil and gas off the coastline of the Wild Coast based on an exploration right received in 2014.
- Human rights advocacy group, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), has once again singled out Zanu PF as a violent political party and the leading perpetrator of human rights violations in Zimbabwe, marking the fifth consecutive month the party has perpetrated widespread abuses.
- A NEW comprehensive Bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives has proposed the repeal of the nearly 25-year-old sanctions regime imposed on Zimbabwe, marking a potentially seismic shift in Washington’s policy towards Harare.
- A new study on chimpanzees in Uganda and Côte d’Ivoire supports a theory that humans may have inherited a taste for alcohol from primate ancestors.
- A focus of President Trump’s visit to London will be on the U.S.-U.K. trade agreement and the billions of dollars of American business investments in British AI, quantum computing and nuclear technology projects. Mr. Trump is the first U.S. president to make a second state visit to Britain, but there is widespread opposition to the visit.
- Doctors for former President Jair Bolsonaro say they have detected early-stage cancer in skin lesions removed over the weekend from the 70-year-old politician following his conviction last week on attempted coup charges.
- A top police official in South Africa has testitified on his claims the police and justice system has been infiltrated by criminal syndicates.
- Chipmaker Nvidia’s CEO said he was disappointed about restrictions on sales to China amid U.S.-China trade and tech tensions.
- European officials have warned Iran that it needs to take specific actions to avoid the return of United Nations sanctions over its nuclear program.
- The widow of Alexei Navalny says that two independent labs have found that her husband was poisoned shortly before his death in an Arctic penal colony in Russia.
- Sikh community leaders are urging New Delhi to lift a ban recently imposed on pilgrims traveling to Pakistan to visit the shrine of Guru Nanak, the founder of their faith.
- Eskom must dispose of its non-core assets, such as its Home Loan Book, as a condition of its debt relief programme..
- Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says that collectively, South African municipalities are owed R400 billion.
- AI engineer Akhil Boddu believes the technology should be allowed in universities, but students should detail their use of AI in the form of a citation.
- A senior executive at a major e-mobility company believes imported EVs should be sold on their own merits — not through special tax treatment.
- NielsenIQ’s State of the Retail Nation report for H1 2025 has revealed troubling signs for South Africa’s tech sector.
- BYD has announced official pricing for the Dolphin Surf electric vehicle, and it is currently the most affordable electric car in South Africa.
- Metrofile has announced a deal that would see it join the companies delisting from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
- Outa goes to court to force Sanral to abandon collecting outstanding e-toll debts.
- A secret-stealing worm called Shai-Hulud, named after the sandworms in Dune, has spread through NPM.
- Former Eskom CEO Jacob Maroga has criticised another former Eskom boss, André de Ruyter, for comparing the solar power rolled out by the private sector with dispatchable coal power.
- Nigerian Cheff Baci, who briefly held the world record for the longest cooking marathon in 2023, last Friday prepared a pot of 8,780 kilograms of jollof rice, a popular West African delicacy made from rice cooked in a pepper sauce. The food is a staple across the region.
- Fairtrade Fortnight 2025 is coming to Wyre, and the community is invited to take part in two local events that promote ethical shopping and global sustainability. From 22 September to 5 October.
- U.S. leaders in government and business agree that the U.S. must win an AI race with China — but that’s where the agreement ends.
- India’s contrasting reactions to Qatar has become important given the New Delhi’s concerns over the Saudi-Pakistan mutual defence agreement signed in Riyadh.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney heads to Mexico on Thursday in an effort to diversify trade as America’s neighbors brace for a review of the free trade deal with United States.
- Australian Citizenship Day on 17 September 2025 was extra special on Redlands Coast, when 175 residents from 33 countries made a pledge to become citizens.
- UN experts* today condemned Israel’s military strike in Qatar on 9 September 2025 which killed five members of the negotiation team of Hamas and a member of the Qatari security forces.
- Some troops and Defense Department employees worry they will face politically motivated punishments for social media posts that are seen as disloyal to President Donald Trump.
- Elon Musk crossed a line by addressing a “Unite the Kingdom” rally in London. Organised by Tommy Robinson, a convicted criminal who preaches anti-Muslim bigotry, the event drew a crowd of more than 100,000.
- Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has told the BBC in an exclusive interview that he has “no relationship” with US President Donald Trump.
- Zwelakhe Mnguni went from a job as a security guard to co-founding an asset management company that today oversees around R7.2 billion in assets.
- Springbok legend John Smit is the CEO of SSG Holdings, which is being sold to Fidelity Services Group, whose CEO, Wahl Bartmann, is also a former Springbok.
- The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has reiterated its concern over the staggering R4.5 billion in unclaimed dividends still sitting idle in South Africa.
- Legislators in the United States Senate have hit South Africa with a second proposed bill to compel Washington to review its relations with Pretoria, sanction the ANC, and kick the country out of AGOA.
- Following a surprise drop in inflation in August, some economists believe South Africa could see two more cuts to interest rates this year.
- A collection of US investors is looking to purchase Metrofile, which will be delisted from the JSE as part of the deal.
- National Treasury has outlined the significant VAT changes contained in the draft Tax Laws Amendment Bill as well as its plans to modernise South Africa’s VAT regime.
- Inflation has ticked downwards in South Africa in August, surprising against market and economist expectations of a small lift.
- The National Treasury wants to iron out the small ambiguities that exist in South Africa’s finance laws that led to a bruising VAT loss for SARS against banking group Capitec in 2024.
- Private schools across South Africa are warning of dire financial consequences if proposed changes to VAT rules are implemented.
- Momentum Group has hit record earnings, with the group looking to increase its total share buybacks to R3 billion.
- The State has turned against one of its own witnesses in the Phala Phala farm burglary trial, accusing him of giving inconsistent testimony about transporting suspects after the $580,000 theft from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s property.
- More than 42,000 Sassa social grant beneficiaries have completed biometric enrolment nationwide as part of new security measures to prevent fraud.
- UK police have arrested three people in Essex on suspicion of assisting Russian intelligence services, part of a broader crackdown on foreign espionage in Britain.
- Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, visited Washington for the first time in more than 25 years to discuss lifting US sanctions and the ongoing mediation between Damascus and Israel.
- Trump Says He Is Designating Antifa as Terrorist Organization.
- Shooting in Rural Pennsylvania Leaves 3 Police Officers Dead, 2 Injured.
- Founder of NYC Pro-Democracy Group Pleads Guilty to Spying for China.
World News – 18 September 2025
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